Meeting Summary
The City Council meeting saw the departure of Commissioner Ben Salter, the swearing-in of new Ward 6 Commissioner Lauren Richter, and the reappointment of Darren as Vice Mayor. Key discussions included contentious appeals regarding property demolitions, with one appeal granted and another denied. Staff also provided comprehensive administrative reports on engineering, public works, and the city's sales tax structure, highlighting significant infrastructure needs and financial challenges.
Key Decisions & Votes
Approval of August 15, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
10:00The minutes from the August 15, 2022 regular meeting were approved.
Resolution of Appreciation for Ben Salter
12:00A resolution expressing appreciation for the outstanding service of Ben Salter as Commissioner of Ward 6 was approved.
Appointment of Vice Mayor
20:00Darren was reappointed to serve another year as Vice Mayor.
Approval of Consent Agenda
20:40The consent agenda, containing routine items, was approved.
Appointment to Senior Citizens Shawnee Board
25:00Mayor Ed Bolt was appointed as the city commissioner representative to the Senior Citizens Shawnee Board.
Appeal of Administrative Order for 910 North Hobson Street
52:00The appeal of the administrative order for property at 910 North Hobson Street was granted, vacating the demolition order. The decision was based on the property being salvageable, taxes paid, no mortgage, and unavoidable circumstances preventing the owner's attendance at the initial hearing, with intent to remodel declared prior to and on the day of the hearing.
Appeal of Administrative Order for 545 North Elm Street
55:00The appeal of the administrative order for property at 545 North Elm Street was denied, upholding the staff's recommendation for demolition due to the owner's failure to appear at the hearing and lack of property maintenance.
Professional Survey Services for Lake Number Two
56:30A proposal with Elevation Land Surveying to provide professional survey services for Shawnee Twin Lakes Lake Number Two was approved.
Application for High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant
59:00A resolution authorizing the application for a High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board was approved.
Shawnee City Lake Dam Improvements Bids
1:00:30Bids received for Shawnee City Lake Dam Improvements were deferred to a future meeting for further review, as they came in higher than original estimates.
Shawnee Municipal Authority Consent Agenda
1:44:00The consent agenda for the Shawnee Municipal Authority was approved.
Upcoming Community Events
National Suicide Prevention Week
Proclaimed by Mayor Ed Bolt to raise awareness and encourage mental health support, highlighting the 988 mental health lifeline.
Cops and Kids
A successful community event involving first responders and city staff.
Financial Matters
Shawnee Forward Economic Summit
A public commenter questioned why citizens are charged to attend the economic summit, given the city's financial contribution to Shawnee Forward.
Water and Wastewater Rate Increases
A public commenter detailed historical water and wastewater rate increases from 2008 to 2022, questioning the outcomes and allocation of funds, particularly regarding the uncompleted Atoka water line tie-in.
Elevation Land Surveying Contract
A professional service contract with Elevation Land Surveying for establishing the exterior boundary and easements of Lake Number Two property.
High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant Application
Resolution authorizing application for a grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to fund a portion of the field investigation and design for remediation of Lake One dam issues.
Shawnee City Lake Dam Improvements Bids
Two bids were received for dam improvements for Lake One: Downey Contracting LLC for $4,294,494.87 and MK Excavation LLC for $2,431,296.90. Bids were deferred for further review.
Sales Tax Overview
An administrative report detailed the community's 9.495% sales tax rate, broken down into state (4.5%), county (1.495%), and city (3.5%) portions, comparing Shawnee's municipal rate to other Oklahoma cities and highlighting the county's reliance on city-generated sales tax.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Funding Needs
Administrative reports highlighted significant understaffing in public works and engineering, and substantial funding needs for infrastructure, including over $130 million for road overlays (potentially over $170 million with subgrade issues) and over $335 million for water and sewer line replacement, far exceeding current annual allocations.
Public Comments
Three citizens addressed the council. Robert Kyle advocated for supporting the homeless community with love and assistance rather than vilification. Rob Morris raised concerns about the homeless population, questioning the true number of homeless individuals and criticizing Shawnee Forward's economic summit for charging citizens. Teresa Cody presented a detailed history of water and wastewater rate increases, requesting accountability for how funds were spent and why promised infrastructure projects, like the Atoka water line tie-in, were not completed.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Bids for Shawnee City Lake Dam Improvements (Item 16) were deferred to a future meeting for further review due to bids coming in higher than estimated.
- The long-term Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is in the process of being set up to address critical infrastructure needs.
Watch For
- The city is awaiting a response on its state application for ARPA funds to support water and sewer projects.
- Future discussions and actions regarding the remediation of issues on Lake One dam, following the HHPD grant application.
- Continued progress on the water treatment plant construction (approximately 10 months into a two-year project) and the wastewater treatment plant project.
Announcements
- Commissioner Ben Salter was recognized for his dedicated service to the city as Ward 6 Commissioner from January 17, 2017, through September 6, 2022.
- Lauren Richter was sworn in as the new Ward 6 Commissioner.
- Mayor Ed Bolt proclaimed September 4th through September 10th, 2022, as National Suicide Prevention Week, highlighting the importance of mental health support and the 988 mental health lifeline.
- The 'Cops and Kids' event, held a couple of weeks prior, was noted as a great success for the community.
Agenda Summary
Item 1: Citizen Participation
Citizens addressed the council on various topics including homelessness, water/wastewater rate increases, and city processes.
Item 2: Consider minutes from the August 15, 2022 regular meeting
Review and approval of the minutes from the previous regular meeting.
Shawnee Airport Authority Item 1: Consider approval of minutes from the August 15, 2022 regular meeting
Review and approval of the minutes for the Airport Authority.
Shawnee Airport Authority Item 2: New Business
Discussion of any new business items for the Airport Authority.
Shawnee Municipal Authority Item 1: Consider approval of minutes from August 15, 2022 regular meeting and August 29, 2022 special call meeting
Review and approval of the minutes for the Municipal Authority.
Item 3: Consider a resolution of appreciation to Ben Salter, Commissioner Ward 6
Consideration of a resolution to formally thank Commissioner Ben Salter for his service.
Item 4: Presentation of the resolution appreciation to Ben Salter, Commissioner Ward 6
Formal presentation of the resolution to outgoing Commissioner Ben Salter.
Item 5: Swearing in of Ward 6 Commissioner Lauren Richter
The formal swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Ward 6 Commissioner, Lauren Richter.
Item 6: Presentation of Certificate of Elections
Presentation of the Certificate of Elections.
Item 7: Commission appointment of vice mayor for Article 3 Section 6 of the city charter
Appointment of the Vice Mayor for the upcoming term.
Item 8: Consider approval of the consent agenda
Approval of routine items grouped into a single vote.
Item 9: Animal of the Week
Presentation of an animal available for adoption.
Item 10: Mayor's proclamation National Suicide Prevention Week
Mayor's proclamation recognizing National Suicide Prevention Week.
Item 11: Consideration of an appointment to a city commissioner to the senior citizens Shawnee board
Appointment of a city commissioner to serve on the Senior Citizens Shawnee Board.
Item 12: Consideration of an appeal of an administrative order regarding property located at 910 North Hobson Street
Appeal of an administrative order concerning a dilapidated property.
Item 13: Consideration of an appeal of an administrative order regarding property located at 545 North Elm Street
Appeal of an administrative order concerning a dilapidated property.
Item 14: Discussion and consideration of a proposal with Elevation Land Surveying to provide professional survey services for Shawnee Twin Lakes Lake Number Two
Discussion and consideration of a contract for surveying services at Lake Number Two.
Item 15: Consideration of resolution authorizing application for high hazard potential dam (HHPD) grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Consideration of a resolution to apply for a grant to address issues with the city's lake dams.
Item 16: Considered bids for Shawnee City Lake Dam Improvements
Review of bids received for improvements to the city's lake dams.
Item 17: Administrative Reports - Engineering and Public Works; Sales Tax Overview
Presentations by the Engineering and Public Works departments, and an overview of the city's sales tax structure.
Item 18: New Business
Discussion of any new business items.
Item 19: Commissioner Comments
Opportunity for commissioners to provide comments.
Shawnee Municipal Authority Item 2: Consider approval of the consent agenda
Approval of routine items grouped into a single vote for the Municipal Authority.
Shawnee Municipal Authority Item 3: New Business
Discussion of any new business items for the Municipal Authority.